The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-26
JACKSON TARVER,
DEALER IN DRY GOODS. HARDWARE
AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE.


Within a counter ran along one side; the wall
behind it was lined with shelves containing
Captain Tarvers miscellaneous assortment of
caicos. and cheap woolens, candies, candles,
spices, medicines and stationery. On the other
side were ranged boxes and barrels, jars buck
cts. wash boards. a pillow or two second hand
sewing machine, aud other nondescript articles.
Overhead. from the squatty ceiling depended
hams, and pieces of bacon, punches of trace
chains, whips, cow bells and yokes; and here and
there hung readymade dress and ruft1ed
Bingham sun bonnet
The dingy little place was thronged with buy
ers all waiting their turn TO be served, for Capt
Tarver's CLERK busily engaged attend
ing to the wants of old Betty hose, one OF the
St. Depys negroes.
When Cecile and her cousins entered he W as
reaching up of the highest shelves for a
piece of red calico, and they could not see his
face When he turned. however. torrent of
surprised exclamation burst from Jeanne and
Laure. Michel Bares's successor WAS Octave
CASTOR He in his shirt-seeves, and his
dark curls were tossed in unwonted confusion
about his white forehead. but he looked undenia-
bly, dlguifed and handsome in his new role He
shook hands composedly across the counter with
them all.
YES" he said, with easy grace. in answer to
Laures amazed questioning. II have taken
Michel Bares's place How many yards did you
say. Aunt Betty Rose?"
''Lawed a mussy neb' min me. Marse Octave!"
said Aunt Betty Rose, hurriedly, backing away
from the counter: "Jes' wait on Miss Cecile
Well, den, if yer DON wan nutti,.' Miss Cecile
honey, do is pow'ful shame ter mad Marse
Octave waitin' on er ole niger lax ez of he wuz
po' white trash-eight yards dat tuky red
Marse Octave"
michel Bare's place." continued Octave plac-
idly. measuring off the gaudy stuff with deft and
graceful fingers; true it is not very lucrative
position-what else Aunt BettyRo Oh, ap-
pies" he Owed under the counter and reap
peared with scoop full of dried apples. which
he placed on the hy-specked scales-''you see.
Laurs, have grown tired of being idle. Ihave
made up my mind to stand alone-(he glanced fur
lively at Ceces compressed lips and angry eyes
and stumbled little in his speech)-I mean
am going to try and make my own living"
But Octave" began LaUre.
II took the first thing that offered" he went
gravely, really a fortunate thing for me-
MicheFs frisson. Bacon, Aunt Betty Rose!
how muchl
He came around the counter and dextrously
unlocked n piece of bacon from the ceiling,
1--WE pounds ehl That was better than beng
idle"-he was weighing the greasy stuff now,
and wrapping IL in piece of brown paper.
Cecile up to this moment bad not spoken. She
had been standing apart, now pale with scorn,
now red with some feeling she dared not define,
her blazing eyes following Octaves movements.
Suddenly her face softened, half pleading, half
imperlous light came into her eyes; she took q
step forward, .aud her lips opened as If to
speak. just then, however; little door in the
of the cabin opened and girl came in.
She about Cecile's own age; she had pretty
round face, busted with brown freckles and
lighted by pair of wide-opeD, grey eyes A
mass of yellow curis nestled against her neck
and crowned her forehead the sleeves of her
displaying a pair of white we.l-rounded arms
She came forward smiling and smoothing her
check apron with plump. foury hands:
Mister CASTOR" she said In a soft, drawing
voice. Captain Tarver, he says fer yer come
in ter the tent ter dinner. III ten the sto' tell
you're done eatin'."
''Di7nerF said Octave, staring at her mo-
ment in bewldermeDt, while a vision rose before
him of the rocnd table at Ferme aux Ifs, with
its OF crystal and silver; uncle Joseph
Marie at end sIppng his claret and denouuc-
ing the ueW-fAugled boiling kettles. himself at
the other. and the open windows with the sun
set streaming in; and away over the tops of the
trees the steep roof of ST. Denys, where Co.
Gle.
Dinner oh, certainly" he cried. coming
suddenly TO himself And he smiled down into
the pretty face lifted to his, 'as l shall
have served these ladies'"
But the ladies were gone. Cecle was flying
across the gangway and up the steep levee. with
angry spot on each cheek and dangerous
fire in her blue eyes
Michel Bares. who stood in the narrow path
way at the top of the levee, beat rapid retreat
at sight Of her. lodging INFO his little cabin